Street Style

Sunset Strip evolves into a bustling hub of high-rise home construction

Written by Alexandria Abramian | Photography Courtesy of 8500 Sunset

Sunset Strip may be one of the most iconic street sections in Los Angeles. The mile-and-a-half stretch of Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood is known for many things, including jaw-dropping billboards, famous and infamous nightclubs, as well as celebrity-flocked hotel hideouts like Chateau Marmont. These days, however, an explosion of residential construction right on Sunset Boulevard is transforming the Strip into a hub of high-end real estate activity. Sunset Strip may be one of the most iconic street sections in Los Angeles. The mile-and-a-half stretch of Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood is known for many things, including jaw-dropping billboards, famous and infamous nightclubs, as well as celebrity-flocked hotel hideouts like Chateau Marmont.

These days, however, an explosion of residential construction right on Sunset Boulevard is transforming the Strip into a hub of high-end real estate activity. Call it a case of location. Perched at the base of the Hollywood Hills, the Strip not only offers a central site, but also newly built luxury condos that feature an amenity usually reserved for those with Bel-Air and Bird Street compounds: A-list city, mountain and ocean views.

“These developments will all offer incredible views from the hills to the sea, and will also provide residents with high-end, full service and top amenity-style living,” says real estate agent Justin Alexander, director of sales for Halton Pardee + Partners. “The idea of your home having a similar vibe and experience as a [five]-star hotel coupled with easy access to the Hollywood nightlife, and a central location to Beverly Hills and the Valley make this new building wave an ideal market for thousands of full-time  and part-time residents.”

Key among the new developments is 8500 Sunset, a just opened, resort-style project at the corner of La Cienega and Sunset boulevards, developed by CIM Group. With 190 one- and two-bedroom condos in eight-story towers, the project offers residences with commanding views via oversized windows. It also includes easy access to onsite amenities, such as the ground floor Fred Segal, which will be the retailer’s largest location in Los Angeles at 22,000 square feet. A gym, florist, restaurant, wine shop and café will also soon open in the building.

Other Sunset Strip projects are also soon to debut, including the West Hollywood Edition, designed by Ian Schrager (an early adopter of Sunset Strip with his Mondrian Hotel). Slated to open in 2018, the 150- room hotel will be topped by 20 condos, each about 3,000 square feet with expansive terraces and outdoor kitchens. Starchitect Frank Gehry is poised to put his mark on the street as well, with 8150 Sunset Blvd. Located directly across from Chateau Marmont, the five-building complex will house two residential towers along with a shopping center.

“Compared to views in Downtown or in Santa Monica, high rises off the Strip cover a 360-degree perspective, from the snow-capped mountains down to Orange County and direct west to the sea,” says Alexander. “You really can’t beat the full package, and the Strip has only had a few notable offerings on Sunset & Doheny and, with the entertainment and luxury markets booming more than ever, now is the perfect time to grow this specific market.”